15 16. And these are hard speeches against him To say that he was not able or willing to save Men because of the greatness of their sins or to say that they were discouraged by his Word from Repentance because of the heinousness of their offences These things I say shall then be confuted He comes with ten thousand of his Sâ—ints to confute them and to stop their mouths from making objections against their own eternal damnation Here is Adam the destroyer of the World heâ—e is Lot that lay with both his Daughters here is Abraham that was sometimes an Idolater and Jacob that was a Supplanter and Ruben that lay with his Fathers Concubine and Judah that lay â—ith his Daughter-in-Law and Levy and Simeon that wickedly slew the Sechemites and Aaron that made an Idol to be Worshipped and that proclaimed a Religious Feast unto it Here is also Rahab the Harlot and Bathsheba that bare a Bâ—stard to David Here is Solomon that great Backslider and Manasseh that man of Blood and a Witch Time would fail to tell you of the Woman of Canaans Daughter of Mary Magdalen of Matthew the Publican and of Gideon and Sampson and many thousands more Alas alas I say what will these Sinners do that have through their unbelief eclipsed the glorious largeness of the mercy of God and gave way to despair of Salvation because of the bigness of their sins For all these though now glorious Saints in Light were sometimes Sinners of the biggest size who had sins that were of a notorious hue Yet now I say they are in their shining and heavenly Robes before the Throne of God and of the Lamb Blessing for ever and every that Son of God for their Salvation who dyed for them upon the Tree admiring that ever it should come into their Hearts once to think of coming to God by Chirst But above all blessing God for granting of them light to see those incouragements in his Testament without which without doubt they had beâ—n daunted and sunk down under guilt of Sin and Despair as their fellow sinnâ—rs have done Bâ—t now they also are all Witnessâ—s for God and for his Grace against an unbâ—lieving World for as I said they shall come to convince the World of their Speeches their hard and unbelieving words that they have spoken concerning the mercy of God and the merits of the Passion of his blessed Son Jesus Christ. But will it not think you strangely put to silence all such thonghts and words and reasonings of the Ungodly before the Barr of God doubtless it will yea and will send them away from his presence also with the greatest guilt that possibly can fallen upon the Consciences of Men. For what will sting like this I have through mine own foolish narrow unworthy undervaluing thoughts of the love and ability of Christ to save me brought my self to everlasting ruine 'T is true I was a horrible sinner not one in a hundred did live so vile a life as I but this should not have kept me from closing with Jesus Christ I see now that there are abundance in Glory that once were as bad as I have been but they were saved by Faith and I am damned by Unbelief Wrâ—tch that I am why did not I give glory to the Redeeming Blood of Jesus Why did I not humbly cast my Soul at his blessâ—d foot stool for Mercy Why did I judge of his ability to save me by the voice of my shallow reason and the voice of a guilty Conscience Why betook not I my self to the holy Word of God Why did I not read and pray that I might understand since now I perceive that God said then He giveth liberally to them that pray and upbraideth not Jam. 1.5 'T is rational to think that by such Cogitations as these the unbelieving World will be torn in pieces before the Judgment of Christ Especially those that have lived where they did or might have heard the Gospel of the Grace of God. Oh! that saying It shall be more tolerable for Sodom at the Judgment than for them will be better understood See Luke 10.8 9 10 11 12. This Reason therefore standeth fast Namely That Christ by offering mercy in the first place to the biggest Sinners now will stop all mouths of the impenitent at the day of Judgment and cut off all excuse that shall be attempted to be made from the thoughts of 〈◊〉 greatness of their sins why they caâ—â— not to him I have often thought of the day of Judgement and how God will deal with sinners at that day And I believe it will be managed with that sweetness with that equitableness with that excellent Righteousness as to every sin and circumstance and aggravation thereof that men that are damned before the Judgment is over shall receive such conviction of the righteous Judgment of God upon them and of their deserts of Hell fire that they shall in themselves conclude that there is all the reason in the world that they should be shut out of Heaven and go to Hell-fire These shall go away into everlasting fire Matt. 25.46 Only this will tare That they have mist of Mercy and Glory and obtained everlasting damnation through their unbelief But it will tare but themsâ—lves but their own Souls they will gnash upon themselves For in that Mercy was offered to the chief of them in the first place and yet they were damned for rejecting of it They were damned for forsaking what they had a propriety in for forsaking their Own Mercy And thus much for the Reasons I will conclude with a word of Application The APPLICATION FIrst Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners Then this shews us how to make a right judgment of the heart of Christ to Men. Indeed we have advantage to guess at the goodness of his Heart by many things as by his taking our nature upon him his dying for us his sending his Word and Ministers to us and all that we might be saved But this of beginning to offer mercy to Jerusalem is that which heightens all the rest for this doth not only confirm to us that Love was the cause of his dying for us but it shews us yet more the depth of that Love He might have dyed for us and yet have extended the benefit of his death to a few as one might call them of the best-conditioned sinners to those who though they were weak and so could not but sin yet made not a trade of sinning To those that sinned not lavishingly There are in the World as one may call them the moderate Sinners the sinners that mix Righteousness with their Pollutions the sinners that though they be sinners do what on their part lies some that are blind would think so that they might be saved I say it had been Love great Love if he had dyed for none but such and sent his love to such But that he should
Begin at Jerusalem Was this Doctrine well believed where would there be place for a doubt or a fear of the Damnation of the Soul if the Sinner be penitent How bad a Life soever he has lived how many soever in number are his sins But this Grace is hid from the Eyes of Men the Devil hides it from them for he knows it is alluring he knows it has an attracting Vertue in it For this is it that above all Arguments can draw the Soul to God. I cannot help it but must let drop another Word The first Church the Jerusalem Church from whence the Gospel was to be sent into all the World was a Church made up of Jerusalem-sinners These great Sinners were here the most shining Monuments of the exceeding Grace of God. Thus you see I have proved the Doctrine and that not only by shewing you that this was the practice of the Lord Jesus Christ in his Life-time but his last Will when he went up to God saying Begin to preach at Jerusalem Yea it is yet further manifested in that when his Ministers first began to preach there he joyned his Power to the Word to the Converting of thousands of his Betrayers and Murderers and also many of the Ringleading Priests to the Faith. I shall now proceed and shall shew you 1. The Reasons of the point 2. And then make some Application of the whole The Observation you know is this Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners to the Jerusalem-sinners preach Repentance and remission of sins in my Name among all Nations Beginning at Jerusalem The Reasons of the Point are First Because the biggest Sinners have most need thereof He that has most need Reason says should be helped first I mean when a helping hand is offered and now it is For the Gospel of the Grace of God is sent to help the World Acts 16.9 But the biggest sinner has most need Therefore in reason when Mercy is sent down from Heaven to men the worst of men should have the first offer of it Begin at Jerusalem This is the reason which the Lord Christ himself renders why in his Life-time he left the best and turned him to the worst why he sat so loose from the Righteous and stuck so close to the Wicked The whole saith he have no need of the Physician but the sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Mark 2.15 16 17. Above you read that the Scribes and Pharisees said to his Disciples How is it that he eateth and drinketh with Publicans and Sinners Alas they did not know the reason But the Lord renders them one and such an one as is both natural and cogent Saying These have need most need Their great necessity requires that I should be most friendly and shew my grace first to them Not that the other were sinless and so had no need of a Saviour But the Publicans and their Companions were the biggest sinners they were as to view worse than the Scribes and therefore in reason should be helped first because they had most need of a Saviour Men that are at the point to dye have more need of the Physician than they that are but now and then troubled with are Heart-fainting-qualm The Publicans and Sinners were as it were in the mouth of Death Death was swallowing of them down and therefore the Lord Jesus receives them first offers them mercy first The whole have no need of the Physician but the sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance The Sick as I said is the biggest sinner whether he sees his Disease or not He is stained from Head to Foot from Heart to Life and Conversation This man in every mans judgment has the most need of mercy There is nothing attends him from Bed to Board and from Board to Bed again but the visible characters and obvious symptoms of eternal damnation This therefore is the man that has need most need and therefore in reason should be helped in the first place Thus 't was with the People concerned in the Text they were the worst of sinners Jerusalem-sinners sinners of the biggest size and therefore such as had the greatest need Wherefore they must have mercy offered to them before it be offered any where else in the World. Begin at Jerusalem offer mercy first to a Jerusalem-sinner This man has most need he is farthest from God nearest to Hell and so one that has most need This mans sins are in number the most in cry the loudest in weight the heaviest and consequently will sink him soonest Wherefore he has most need of mercy This man is shut up in Satans hand fastest bound in the cords of his sins one that Justice is whetting his Sword to cut off and therefore has most need not only of mercy but that it should be extended to him in the first place But a little further to shew you the true nature of this Reason to wit That Jesus Christ would have mercy offer'd in the first place to the biggest sinners First Mercy ariseth from Bowels and Compassion from Pity and from a feeling of the Condition of those in misery In his Love and in his Pity he saveth us And again The Lord is pâ—tiful very petiful and of great mercy Isa. 63.9 Jam 5.11 Now where Pity and Compassion is there is yearning of Bowels and where there is that there is a readiness to help And I say again The more deplorable and dreadful the Condition is the more directly doth Bowels and Compassion turn themselves to such and offer help and deliverance All this flows from our first Scripture proof I came to call them that have need to call them first while the rest look on and murmur How shall I give thee up Ephraim Ephraim was a Revolter from God a man that had given himself up to Devilism A company of men the ten Tribes that worshiped Devils while Judah kept with his God. But how shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel How shall I make thee as Admah How shall I set thee 〈◊〉 Zeboim and yet thou art worse than they nor has Samaria committed half thy sins Ezek. 16.46 47 48 49 50 51. My heart is turned within me and my repentings are kindled together Hos. 11.8 But where do you find that ever the Lord did thus rowl in his Bowels for and after any Self-righteous man No no they are the Publicans and Harlots Idolaters and Jerusalem-sinners for whom his Bowels thus yearn and tumble about within him For alas poor Worms they have most need of mercy Had not the good Samaritan more compassion for that man that fell among Thieves though that fall was occasioned by his going from the place where they worshipped God to Jerico the cursed City than we read he had for any other besides His Wine was for him his Oyl was for him his Breast for
into the Flesh the World was Degenerated as it is now The generality of the Men in Jerusâ—lem were become either high and famous for Hypocrisie or filthy base in their Lives The Devil also was broke loose in hideous manner and had taken possession of many Yea I believe that there was never Generation before nor since that could produce so many possessed with Devils deformed lame blind and infected with monstrous Diseases as that Generation could But what was the reason thereof I mean the reason from God Why one and we may sum up more in that answer that Christ gave to his Disciples concerning him that was born Blind was that the Works oâ— God might be made manifest in them and that the Son of God might be glorified thereby Joh. 9.2 3. chap. 11.4 Now if these Devils and Diseases aâ— they possessed Men then were to makâ— way and work for an approaching Chrâ—sâ— in Person and for the declaring of hiâ— Power why may we not think that now even now also he is ready to come bâ— his Spirit in the Gospel to heal man of the Debaucheries of our Age I can not believe that Grace will take them aâ— for there are but few that are saved But yet it will take some even some of the worst of Men and make Blessed ones of them But O! how these Ringleaders in Vice will then shine in Vertâ—e They will be the very Pillars in Churches they will be as an Ensign in the Land The Lord their God shall save them in that day as the Flock of his People for they shall he as the Stones of a Crown lift up as an Ensign upon the Land Zech. 9.16 But who are these Even Idolatrous Ephraim and backsliding Judah Ver. 13. I know there is groand to fear that the Iniquity of this Generation will be pursued with heavy Judgments But that will not hinder what we have supposed God took him a glorious Church out of Bloody Jerusalem yea out of the chief of the Sinners there and left the rest to be taken and spoiled and sold Thirty for a Penny in the Nations where they were Capâ—ives The Gospel working gloriously in a place to the seizing upon many of the ringleading Sinners thereof promiseth no security to the rest but rather threatneth them with the heaviest and smartest Judgments as in the Instance now given we have a full demonstration but in defending the Lord will defend his People and in saving he will save his Inheritance Nor does this speak any great comfort to a decayed and backsliding sort of Christians for the next time God rides Post with his Gospel he will leave such Christians behind him But I say Christ is resolved to set up his Light in the World yea he is delighted to see his Graces shine and therefore he commands that his Gospel should to that end be offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners for by great Sins it shineth most Therefore he saith Begin at Jeâ—usalem Eighthly And lastly Christ Jesus will have Mercy to be offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners For that by that means the Impenitent that are lâ—ft behind will be at the Judgment the more left without excuse God's Word has two edges it can cut back-stroke and fore-stroke If it doth thee no good it will do thee hurt 'T is the savour of Life unto Life to those that receive it but of Death unto Death to them that refuse it 2 Cor. 2.15 16. But this is not all the tender of Grace to the biggest Sinners in the first place wiâ—l not only leave the rest or those that refuse it in a deplorable condiâ—ion but will also stop their mouths and cut off all pretence to excuse at that day If I had not come and spokâ—n unto them saith Christ they had not had Sin but now thâ—y have no cloke for their sin for their sin of persevering in Impenitence Job 15.22 But what did he speak to them Why even that which I have told you to wit That he has in special a delight in saving the biggest Sinners He spake this in the way of his Doctrine he spake this in the way of his Practice even to the pouring out of his last breath before them Luk. 23.34 Now since this is so what can the Condemned at the Judgement say for themselves why Sentence of Death should not be passed upon them I say what excuse can they make for themselves when they shall be asked why they did not in the day of Sâ—lvation come to Christ to be saved Will they have ground to say to the Lord Thou wast only for saving of little Sinners and therefore because they were great ones they durst not come unto him Or that thou hadst not compâ—ssion for the biggest Sinners therefore I died in despair will these be excuses for them as the Case now standeth with them Is there not every where in God's Books slâ—t contradiction to this in multitudes of Promises of Invitations of Examples and the like Alas alas there will then be there millions of Souls to confute this Plea ready I say to stand up and say O! deceived World Heaven swarms with such as was when they were in the World to the full as bad as you Now this will kill all plea or excuse why they should not perish in their sins yea the Text says they shall see them there There shall be weeping when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of Heaven and you your selves thrust out And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God Luk. 13.28 29. Out of whâ—ch company it is easie to pick such as sometimes were as bad People as any now bâ—eathe on the face of the Earth What think you of the first Man by whose sins there are millions now in Hell And so I may say what think you of ten thousand more besides But if the Word will not stifle and gagg them up I speak now for amplification sake the view of those who are saved shall There comes an Incestuous Person to the Barr and pleads that the bigness of his Sins was a bar to his receiving the Promise But will not his mouth be stopt as to that when Lot and the Incestuous Corinthian shall be set before him Gen. 19.33 34 35 36. 1 Coâ— 5.1 2. There comes a Thief and says Lord my sin of Theft I thought was such as could not be pardoned by thee But when he shall see the Thief that was saved on the Cross stand by as clothed with beauteous Glory what further can he be able to object Yea the Lord will produce ten thousand of his Sâ—ints at his coming who shall after this manner execute Judgment upon all and so convince all that are ungodly among them of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude
Build not therefore Despair upon these things they are no sufficient foundation for it such plenty of Promises being in the Bible and such a discovery of his Mercy to great sinners of old especially since we have withall a Clause in the Commission given to Ministers to Preach that they should begin with the Jerusalem-sinners in their offering of Mercy to the World. Besides God says They that wait upâ—n the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings like Eagles but perhaps it may be long first I waited long saith David and did seek the Lord and at length his cry was heard Wherefore he bids his Soul wait on God and says for it is good so to do before thy Saints Psal. 40.1 Psal. 62.5 Psal. 52.9 And what if thou waitest upon God all thy days Is it below thee And what if God will cross his Book and blot out the hand-writing that is against thee and not let thee know it as yet Is it fit to say unto God Thou art hard-hearted Despair not Thou hast no ground to dâ—spair so long as thou livest in this World. 'T is a sin to begin to despair before one sets his foot over the threshold of Hell-gates For them that are there let them despair and spare not but as for thee thou hast no ground to do it What! Despair of Bread in a Land that is full of Corn Despair of Mercy when our God is full of Mercy Despair of Mercy when God goes about by his Ministers beseeching of Sinners to be reconciled unto him 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. Thou scrupulous fool where canst thou find that God was ever false to his Promise or that he ever deceived the Soul that ventured it self upon him He often calls upon Sinners to trust him though they walk in darkness and have no light Isa. 50.10 They have his Promise and Oath for their Salvation that flee for refuge to the hope set before them Heb 6.17 18. Despair When we have a God of Mercy and a Redeeming Christ Alive For shame forbear Let them despair that dwell where there is no God and that are confined to those Chambers of Death which can be reached by no Redemption A Living Man despair When he is chid for murmuring and complaining Lam. 3.39 Oh! so long as we are where Promises swarm where Mercy is proclaimed where Grace reigns and where jerusalem-Jerusalem-sinners are priviledged with the first ofter of Mercy it is a base thing to despair Despair undervalues the Promise undervalues the Invitation undervalues the proffer of Grace Despair undervalues the ability of God the Fathâ—r and the redeeming Blood of Christ his Son Oh unreasonable Despair Despair makes Man God's Judge 't is a Controller of the Promise a Contradicter of Christ in his large offers of Mercy And one that undertakes to make Vnbâ—lief the great manager of our Reason and Judgment in determining about what God can and will do for Sinners Despair It is the Devils fellow the Devils master yea the Chains with which he is captivated and held under darkness for ever And to give way thereto in a Land in a State and Time that flows with Milk and Honey is an uncomely thing I would say to my Soul O my Soul this is not the place of Despair this is not the time to despair in As long as mine eyes can find a Promise in the Bible as long as there is the least mention of Grace as long as there is a moment left me of breath or life in this World so long will I wait or look for Mercy so long will I fight against Unbelief and Despair This is the way to honour God and Christ this is the way to set the Crown on the Promise this is the way to welcome the Invitation and Inviter and this is the way to thrust thy self under the shelter and proâ—ection of the word of Grace Never despair so long as our Text is alive for that doth sound it out That Mercy by Christ is offered in the first place to the biggest sinner Despair is an unprofitable thing 't will make a man weary of waiting upon God 2 King. 6.33 'T will make a man forsake God and seek his Heaven in the good things of this world Gen. 4.13 14 15 16 17. 'T will make a man his own tormenter and flounce and fling lâ—ke a wild Bull in a net Isa. 51.20 Despair It drives a man to the study of his own ruine and brings him at last to be his own Executioner 2 Sam. 17.23 Matt. 27 3 4 5. Besides I am perswaded also that Despair is the cause that there are so many that would fain be Atheists in the World For because they have entertained a Conceit that God will never be merciful to them therefore they labour to perswade themselves that there is no God at all as if their misbelief would kill God or cause him to cease to be A poor shift for an Immortal Soul for a Soul who liketh not to retain God in its knowledge If this be the best that Despair can do let it go Man and betake thy self to Faith â—o Prayer to wait for God and to hope in despight of ten thousand doubts And for thy encouragement take yet as an addition to what has already been said these following Scriptures The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him in them that hope in his mercy Psal. 147.11 Whence note They fear not God that hope not in his mercy Also God is angry with them that hope not in his Mercy for he only taketh pleasure in them that hope He that believeth or hath received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true Joh. 3.33 But he that receiveth it not hath made him a liar and that is a very unworthy thing 1 Joh. 5.10 11. Let the Wicked forsake his ways and the Vnrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him and to our God for he will abundantly multiply pardons Isa. 55.7 Perhaps thou art weary of thy ways but art not weary of thy thoughts of thy unbelieving and despairing thoughts Now God also would have thee cast away these thoughts as such which he deserveth not at thy hands for he will have mercy upon thee and he will abundantly pardon O fools and flow heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken Luk. 24.25 Mark you here showness to believe is a piece of folly Ay! but sayest thou I do believe some and I believe what can make agâ—inst me Ay but Sinner Christ Jesus here calls thee fool for not believing All. Believe All and despair if thou canst He that believes All believes that Text that saith Christ would have Mercy Preached first to the Jerusalem-sinners He that believeth All believeth all the Promises and Consolations of the Word and the Promises and Consolations of the Word weigh heavier than do all the Curses and Threatnings of the Law. And Mercy
bare the sin of many and made Intercâ—ssion for the transgressors Isa. 53.12 Ninthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Let the Tempted harp upon This string for their hâ—lp and consolation The Tempted wherever he dwells always thinks himself the biggest Sinner one most unworthy of eternal Life This is Satans master Argument Thou art a horrible Sinner a Hypocrite one that has a profane heart and one that is an utter stranger to a work of Grace I say this is his Maul his Clâ—h his Master-piece He doth with this as some do by their most inchanting Songs sings them every where I believe there are but few Saints in the World that have not had this temptation sounding in their Ears But were they but aware Satan by all this does but drive them to the Gaâ— out at which they should go and so escape his roaring Saith he Thou art a great Sinner a horrible Sinner a profane hearted Wretch one that cannot be matchâ— for a Vile one in the Country And all this while Christ says to his Ministers offer Mercy in the first place to the biggest Sinners So that this Temptation drives thee directly into the Arms of Jesus Christ. Was therefore the Tempted but aware he might say Ay Satan so I am I am a Sinner of the biggest size and therefore have most need of Jesus Christ Yea because I am such a wretch therefore Jesus Christ calls me yea he calls me first The first proffer of the Gospel is to be made to the Jerusalem sinner I am he wherefore stâ—nd back Satan make a lane my right is first to come to Jesus Christ. This now would be like for like This would foil the Devil This would make him say I must not deal with this man thus for then I put a Sword into his hand to cut off my head And this is the meaning of Peter when he saith Resist him stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.9 And of Paul when he saith Take the Shiâ—ld of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked Ephes. 6.16 Wherefore is it said Begin at Jerusalem if the Jerusalem sinner is not to have the benefit of it And if I am to have the benefit of it let me call it to mind when Satan haunts me with the continual remembrance of my sins of my Jerusalem-sins Satan and my Conscience says I am the biggest sinner Christ offereth Mercy in the first place to the biggest sinners Nor is the manner of the Offer other but such as suiteth with my mind I am sorry for my sin yea sorry at my heart that ever sinful Thought did enter or find the least entertainment in my wicked mind And might I obtain my Wish I would never more that my heart should be a place for ought but the Grace and Spirit and Faith of the Lord Jesus I speak not this to lessen my Wickedness I would not for all the World but be placed by mine own Conscience in the very front of the biggest Sinners that I might be one of the first that are beckoned by the gracious Hand of Jesus the Saviour to come to him for Mercy Well Sinner thou now speakest like a Christian but say thus in a stronâ— Spirit in the hour of Temptation and then thou wilt to thy commendation and comfort quit thy self well This improving of Christ in dark hours is the Life though the hardest part of our Christianity We should neither stop at Darkness nor at the raging of our Lusts but go on in a way of venturing and casting the whole of our Affair for the next World at the foot of Jesus Christ. This is the way to make the Darkness Light and also to alay the raging of our Corruption Tâ—e first time the Passover â—as eaten was in the night and when Israel took Courage to go forward though the Sea stood in their way like a devouring Gulf and the Host of the Aegyptians follow them at the heels yet the Sea gives place and their Enemies were as still as a stone till they were gone over Exod. 12.8 chap. 14.13 14 21 21 22. chap. 15 16. There is nothing like Faith to help at a pinch Faith dissolves Doubts as the Sun drives away the Mists And that you may not be put out know your time as I said of believing is always There are times when some Graces may be out of use but there is no time wherein Faith can be said to be so Wherefore Faith must be always in exercise Faith is the eye is the mouth is the hand and one of these is of use all day long Faith is to see to receive to work on to eat and a Christian should be seeing or receiving or working or feeding all day long Let it rain let it blow let it thunder let it lighten a Christian must still believe At what time said the good man I am afraid I will trust in thee Psal. 56.2 3. Nor can we have a better encouragement to do this than is by the Text set before us even an open heart for a Jerusalem Sinner And if for a Jerusalem-Sinner to come then for such an one when come If such a one To Be saved then for such a one that Is saved If for such a one To be pardoned his great transgressions then for such a one who Is pardoned these to come daily to Jesus Christ too to be cleansed and set free from his common Infirmities and from the Iniquities of his holy things Therefore let the poor Sinner that would be saved labour for skill to make the best Improvement of the grace of Christ to help him against the temptations of the Devil and his Sins Tengthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Let those men consider this that have or may in a day of trial have spoken or done what their Profession or Conscience told them they should not and that have the guilt and burden thereof upon their Consciences Whether a thing be wrong or right Guilt may pursue him that doth contrary to his Conscience But suppose a man should deny his God or his Christ or relinquish a good Profession and be under the real guilt thereof Shall he therefore conclude he is gone for ever Let him come again with Peter's tears and no doubt but he shall obtain Peter's Forgiveness For the Text includes the biggest sinners And 't is observable That before this Glâ—use was put into this Commission Peter was pardoned his horrible Revolt from his Master He that Revolteth in the day of Trial if he is not shot quite dead upon the place but is sensible of his Wound and calls out for a Chyrurgion shall find his Lord at hand to pour Wine and Oyl into his Wounds that he may again be healed And to incourage him to think that there may be Mercy for him Besides what we find Recorder of Peter you read
may see that indeed you are the Sons of Love. Love your Saviour Yea shew one to another that you love him not only by a seeming love of Affection but with the love of Duty Practical Love is best Many love Christ with nothing but the lick of the Tongue Alas Christ Jesus the Lord must not be put off thus He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them saith he he it is that loveth me Joh. 14.21 Practical Love which stands in Self-denial in Charity to my Neighbour and a Patient enduring of Affliction for his Name This is counted Love. Right Love to Christ is that which carries in it a provoking Argument to others of the Brethren Heb. 10.24 Should a Man ask me how he should know that he loveth the Children of God The best answer I could give him would be in the Words of the Apostle John By this saith he we know we love the Children of God when we love God and keep his Commandments 1 Joh. 5.2 Love to God and Christ is then 〈◊〉 when we are tender of his Name and then we shew our selves tender of his Name when we are afraid to break any the least of his Commandments And when we are here then do we shew our love to our Brother also Now we have Obligation sufficient thus to do for that our Lord loved us and gave himself for us to deliver us from Death that we might live through him The World when they hear the Doctrine that I have asserted and handled in this little Book to wit That Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners will be apt because themselves are Unbelievers to think that this is a Doctrine that leads to Looseness and that gives liberty to the Flesh but if you that Believe love your Brethren and your Neighbours truly and as you should you will put to silence the ignorance of such foolish Men and stop their mouths from speaking Evil of you And I say let the love of Christ constrain us to this Who deserveth our Heart our Mouth our Life our Goods so much as Jesus Christ who has bought us to himself by his Blood to this very end that we should be a peculiar Peâ—â—le zealous of good Works There is nothing more seemly in the World than to see a Christian walk as becomes the Gospel nor any thing more unbecoming a Reasonable Creature than to hear a man say I believe in Christ and yet see in his Life Debauchery and Profaneness Might I such men should be counted the basest of men such men should be counted by all unworthy of the Name of a Christian and should be shunned by every good man as such who are the very Plague of Profession For so it is written We should carry it towards them Whoso has a Form of Godliness and deny the power thereof from such we must turn away It has oft-times come into my mind to ask by what means it is That the Gospel Profession should be so Taunted with Loose and Carnal Gospellers And I could never arrive to better Satisfaction in the matter than this Such men are made Professors by the Devil and so by him put among the rest of the Godly A certain Man had a fruitless Figg-Tree planted in his Vineyard but by whom was it planted there Even by him that sowed the Tares his own Children among the Wheat Luke 13.6 Matt. 13.37 38 39 40. And that was the Devil But why doth the Devil do thus Not of love to them but to make of them Offences and Stumbling blocks to others For he knows that a loose Professor in the Church does more mischief to Religion than ten can do to it that are in the World. Was it not think you the Devil that stirred up the Damosel that you read of in Acts 16. to cry out These are the Servants of the Most high God that shew unto us the way of Salvation Yes it was as is evident For Paul was grieved to hear it But why did the Devil stir up her to cry so But because that was the way to blemish the Gospel and to make the World think that it came from the same hand as did her Sooth-saying and Witchery Ver. 16.17 18. Holiness O Lord becomes thy House for ever Let therefore whoever they be that profess the Name of Christ take heed that they Scandal not that Profession which they make of him since he has so graciously offered us as we are Sinners of the biggest size in the first place his Grace to Save us HAving thus far spoken of the riches of the Grace of Christ and of the freeness of his Heart to imbrace the Jerusalem-sinners it may not be amiss to give you yet as a caution an intimatimation of one thing namely That this grace and freeness of his Heart is limited to time and day the which whoso overstandeth shall perish notwithstanding For as a King who of Grace sendeth out to his Rebellious People an offer of Pardon if they accept thereof by such a day yet beheadeth or hangeth those that come not in for mercy until the day or time be past So Christ Jesus has set the Sinner a day a day of Salvation an acceptable time but he who standeth out or goeth on in Rebellion beyond that time is like to come off with the loss of his Soul 2 Cor. 6.2 Heb. 3.13 16 17 18 19. chap. 4.7 Luk. 19.41 42. Since therefore things are thus it may be convenient here to touch a little upon these particulars First That this Day or Time thus limited when it is considered with reference to this or that man is oft-times undiscerned by the person concerned therein and always is kept secret as to the shutting up thereof And this in the wisdom of God is thus to the end no man when called upon should put off turning to God to another time Now and to Day is that and only that which is revealed in Holy Writ Psal. 50.22 Eccles. 12.1 Hâ—b 3.13 16. And this shews us the desperate hazzards which those men run who when invitation or conviction attends them put off turning to God to be saved till another and as they think a more fit season and time For many by so doing defer this to do till the day of God's patience and long-suffering is ended and then for their Prayers and Cryes after mercy they receive nothing but mocks and are laughed at by the God of Heaven Prov. 1.20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29. Isa. 65.12 13 14 15. chap. 66.4 Zech. 7.11 12 13. Secondly Another thing to be considered is this namely that the day of God's grace with some men begins sooner and also sooner ends than it doth with others Those at the first hour of the day had their Call sooner than they who were called upon to turn to God at the sixth hour of the day yea and they who were hired at third hour had their Call sooner than
knowledge of the nature of thy Sin and so no true sense of the nature or need of Mercy Little Sinner when therefore thou goest to God though thou knowest in thy Conscience that thou as to acts art no Thief no Murderer no Whore no Liar no false Swearer or the like and in reason must needs understand that thus thou art not so profanely vile as others yet when thou goest to God for Merey know no mans sins but thine own make mention of no mans sins but thine own Also labour not to lessen thy own but magnifie and greaten them by all just Circumstances and be as if there was never a Sinner in the World but thy self Also cry out as if thou wast the only undone Man and that is the way to obtain God's Mercy It is one of the comeliest Sights in the world to see a little Sinner commenting upon the greatness of his sins multiplying and mulâ—iplying them to himself till he makes them in his own eyes bigger and higher than he seeth any other man's sins to be in the World and as base a thing it is to see a man do otherwise and as basely will come on 't Luk. 18.10 11 12 13. As therefore I said to the great Sinner before let him take heed lest he presumes I say now to the little Sinner let him take heed that he don't dissemble For there is as great an aptness in the little Sinner to dissemble as there is in the great one He that hideth his sins shall not prosper be he a sinner little or great Prov. 28.13 Eighthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Then this shews the true cause why Satan makes such head as he doth against him The Father and the holy Spirit are well spâ—kâ—n of by all Deluders and deceived Persons Christ only is the Rock of Offence Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling-Stone and a Rock of Offence Rom. 9.33 Not that Satan careth for the Father or the Spirit more than he careth for the Son but he can let men alone with their notions of the Father and the Spirit for he knows they shall never enjoy the Father or the Spirit if indeed they receive not the Merits of the Son. He that hath the Son hath Life he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life however they may boast themselves of the Father and the Spirit 1 Jâ—hn 5.12 Again Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 John 9. Christ and Christ only is he that can make us capâ—ble to enjoy God with Life and Joy to all eternity Hence he calls himself The Way to the Father The true and lâ—ving Way Joh. 14.6 Heb. 10.19.20 For we cannot come to the Father but by him Satan knows this therefore he hates him Deluded Persons are ignorant of this and therefore they are so led up and down by Satan by the nose as they are Tâ—ere are many things by which Satan has taken occasion to greaten his rage against Jesus Christ. As first His love to Man and then the many expressions of that love He hath taken Man's nature upon him he hath in that nature fulfilled the Lâ—w to bring in Righteousness for Man and hath spilt his Blood for the Reconciling of Man to God he hath broke the neck of Death put away Sin destroyed the works of the Devil and got into his own hands the Keys of Death and all these are heinous things to Satan He cannot abide Christ for this Besides he hath eternal Life in himself and that to bestow upon us and we in all liklihood are to possess the very places from which the Satans by transgression fell if not places more glorious Wherefore he must neâ—ds be angry And is it not a vexatious thing to him that we should be admitted to the Throne of Grace by Christ while he stands bound over in Chains of Darkness to answer for his Rebellions against God and his Son at the terrible day of Judgment Yea we poor Dust and Ashes must become his Judges and triumph over him for ever and all this long of Jâ—sus Christ for he is the Meritorious Cause of all this Now though Satan seeks to be revenged for this yet he knows it is in vain to attack the Person of Christ he has overcome him therefore he tampers with a company of silly Men that he may Villifie him by them And they bold fools as they are will not spare to spit in his face They will rail at his Person and deny the very Being of it they will rail at his Blood and deny the Merit and Worth of it They will deny the very end why he accomplished the Law and by figgs and tricks and quiâ—ks which he helpeth them to they set up fond Nâ—mes and Images in his plâ—ce and give the glory of a Saviour to them Thus Satan workeâ—h under the Name of Christ and his Ministers under the name of the Ministers of Righteousness And by his Wiles and Stratagems he undoes a world of men But there is a Seâ—d and they shall serve him and it shall be counted to the Lord for a Generation Tâ—ese shall see their sins and thâ—t Câ—rist is the Way to Happiness These shâ—ll venture themselves both Body and Soul upon his Worthiness All this Satan Knows and therefore his rage is kindleâ— the more Wherefore acâ—ording to his ability and allowance he assaulteth tempteth abuseth and stirs up what he can to be hurtful to these poor People that he may while his time shall last make it as hard and difficult for them to go to eternal Glory as he can Often-times he abuses them with wrong appreheâ—sions of God and with wrong apprehensions of Christ. He also casts them into the Mire to the reproach of Religion the shame of their Brethren the derision of the World and dishonour of God. He holds our hands while the World buffets us he puts Bear-skins upon us and then sets the Dogs at us He bedawbeth us with his own Fome and then tempts us to believe that that bedawding comes from ourselves Oh! the rage and the roaring of this Lion and the hatred that he manifests against the Lord Jâ—sus and against them that are purchased with his Blood But yet in the midst of all this the Lord Jesus sends forth his Herrald to proclaim in the Nations his love to the World and to invite them to come in to him for Life Yea his Invitation is so large that it offereth his Mercy in the first place to thâ—â—iggest Sinners of every Age which augments the Devils rage the more wherefore as I said before fret he sume he the Lord Jesus will divide the Spoil with this great one yea he shall divide the Spoil with the strong because he hâ—th poured out his Soul unto death and was numbred with the Transgressiors and